Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-07-09
MASON VALLEY.
A Place That IL Destined to Become
One OF the Finest Agricultural.
Stock Raising and Dairy Countries
i'm the state.

nate in Nevada, Mason Valley has been left
o one side. This Valley lies in the south
I'm portion of Lyon county, and comprises
,bout zoo, 900 square acres Of as fine agrl-
cultural and range land as can be found on
this coast. Much Of this land is under Gull
tivation, but there are still thousands Of acres
that can be taken up for the purpose Of max
ing homesteads. The Valley runs north and
south and is about 90 miles in length, and
will average 10 miles in width. From Wa
buska, which is situated on the c. & c.
and nearly the center Of the county,
it is twelve miles south to the town Of Green
field, which place is the capital of the
Valley; that is, 1t is the main town in which
business is done by the ranehers Of the Val.
ley. From Greenfield the Valley runs south |
nearly twelve miles farther to the foothills.
In this section Of the country there are many
fine ranches, owned bp settlers %hO came in
to the place many years ago and who have
by unceasing labor placed their property in
such condition that it now makes them indie.
pendently we'll of.
Mason Valley is watered principally by the
East and West Walker rivers and their trb-
utaries, and it is only in the dryest seasons
that there is not enough water to amply irri-
gate all land under cultivation. The soil in
the Valley is rich and will produce large
crops of all kinds Of grain. hay, vegetables,
etc. In fact there is nothing that will not
grow in this Valley if it is properly attend.
ed TO.
There are yet many acres Of land in the
northern portion of Mason Valley that are
no, taken up. Here people who are looking
for homes can find what they want if they
are made Of the right kind of stuff. 1t is
not to be understood by this assertion that
man with few hundred dollars can take up
piece Of land and in few years become
independently rich Far from it. 1t will
take men with a little capital and cohsldera
Bile energy to make a home here, but after it
is accomplished it will be worth something
to them. A man is never so rich as when
he has ranch of his own which will at all
times yield him comfortable income.
There are many Improvements yet to be
made in Mason Valley. as it is but few
years now since the ranchers have been en-
gagged in legitimate farming. AT present al
falfa is the main crop raised by all the
ranchers. This is because IL will net them
a larger profit to raise this crop than it will
to raise wheat, oats or barley. In the
course Of time this will change. Some day
some enterprs,ng man with money will
build irst-class Touring mill at some point
in the Valley, probably on the line Of the
railroad, so that it will be more handy to
market the -four after it is manufactured.
An enterprise OF this kind will be one Of the
greatest things that could happen for the
ranchers Of that section. A mill that will
produce -four that can compete with Cali
forna -four would be the cause Of many
more acres OF wheat being sown. There
would be greater profit in raising wheat
than there would be in raising alfalfa, and
mill-a hrst.class one-would give the
ranchers a market for all the wheat they
could raise, for there is always market for
good -four. The wheat raised in the Val
ley, too, is superior, it is believed. to any
wheat raised in the United States At least
premiums have been awarded Mason Valley
wheat at the late Worlds Fair at New Or
leans.
Another industry that is growing in this
thriving agricultural center is that OF dairy
ing. Many OF the owners OF ranches are
putting their mouey into the best milking
cattle they can get hold OF. and are manu-.
featuring butter and selling milk to a large
number OF customersin the mining camps ad.
jacent to the Valley. Another enterprise
that it would pay man with money to go
into, would be the establishment Of a
cheese factory at some point near the line
ofthe railroad. Al the present time there
Valley to make small cheese factory pay.
Should factory be established, more ranch
ers would supply it with milk. 1t would
take but little capital to establish an indus
try Of this kind. and if it is not done soon.
probably number of the ranchers will
band together, form company Of their own
and start factory Of their own. 1t would
be good idea, and no doubt paying prop
osition.
The finest beef cattle in any state In the
Union are raised right in Mason Valley to-
day. # is one Of the leading industries Of
the Valley, and it pays also. More stock is
being fed each winter at the ranches in this
section and before long it is the opinion OF
experienced caltlemen that this Valley will
be the greatest place to raise fine beef OF
any IN the State. Many Of the ranchers are
also going into the business Of raising fine
horses, and there is now in the Valley some
of the finest draft and trottins stock on the